Hey Soul Sister

How to play Hey Soul Sister by Train on guitar

This is a bright, feel-good song that is fun to learn and satisfying to keep moving through. At about 97 BPM, it has a steady groove that makes you feel locked in quickly, and the beginner-friendly pace helps you focus on clean changes instead of speed.

You will use a mix of open shapes and barre shapes, so the contrast is the main challenge. E and A sit comfortably under the fingers, while B, C#m, and D#m ask for more pressure and accuracy. The change to watch most closely is the opening move from E to B, then into C#m and A, since that shift sets the pattern for the rest of the song.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly until each change feels automatic. Then practice the barre shapes on their own, especially B and C#m, before putting the whole sequence together. Once the chords feel smooth, bring the tempo up little by little until you can stay relaxed all the way through.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.